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Barcelona return to UEFA Champions League motion tomorrow night time in Belgrade as they tackle Crvena Zvezda of their fourth League section match of the competitors.
Despite the fact that the Blaugrana are the outright favourites for the sport, the daunting environment that awaits them on the Rajko Mitic Stadium might be a problem on Wednesday night time.
Addressing the identical throughout his pre-match press convention in the present day, Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick mentioned:
“On this new Champions League, it is vitally vital to win. We all know it is going to be a troublesome sport tomorrow, as a result of they’re a superb crew and so they have quick strikers. The target is to win.”
Barça have tasted nice success with their excessive defensive position and offside entice this season, having seen 13 targets scored in opposition to them get overturned.
“Our concept is to play good soccer and the crew could be very nicely linked. Our line of 4 and the crew is doing very nicely. It’s vital to place stress on the opposition as a result of they need to have possession,” mentioned Flick in regards to the tactic.
Whereas Barcelona have been near-faultless in most matches in current weeks, the second half of the Catalan derby in opposition to Espanyol on Sunday noticed them drop off by way of focus and depth, one thing which didn’t sit proper with Flick.
Speaking about the identical in the present day, the German tactician mirrored: “We’ve performed very nicely within the final month, additionally within the first half in opposition to Espanyol. It’s regular, these items occur. The whole lot appears straightforward and typically it’s important to settle for that the crew’s degree drops.
“Now it’s one other competitors, it’s the Champions League and everybody is aware of how vital it’s to win to complete within the prime eight. That is our goal. We’re targeted on this. We’ve to enhance the issues we didn’t do nicely, however we now have to suppose optimistic.”
Barcelona’s monitor document in away video games within the Champions League in current seasons has not been the most effective. However Flick will not be fearful by the previous and solely needs to deal with what lies forward, as he mentioned:
“I don’t take into consideration the previous, I take into consideration the long run. We are able to’t examine the previous. We need to be extra profitable within the Champions League and tomorrow is an efficient day to do it.”
Offering an replace on midfield sensation Gavi and the place he’s at by way of being prepared to start out a sport after practically a yr out because of damage, Flick mentioned:
“I spoke to him and we now have determined to take it one step at a time. He’ll get extra minutes as time goes by, and relying on how the video games go. In opposition to Espanyol, he performed for some time and he’s doing very nicely in coaching. He offers us extra ball management.”
Having roped in Wojciech Szczesny as an emergency substitute for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Flick is but at hand the veteran Pole his Barça debut with Inaki Pena excelling between the sticks.
Flick proud of Szczesny. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
Speaking about how he’s approaching the goalkeeping scenario and the competitors between the 2 gamers, the supervisor mentioned:
“Tek [Szczesny] has skilled for 2 months with us and once I spoke to him you possibly can see that he’s an distinctive man. He helps Inaki and the opposite kids. It’s preferrred to have him within the crew.
“After we want him he can be prepared. Our goal was to have a participant like him with expertise, who may give us stability and assist the opposite goalkeepers.”
Flick has loved a near-perfect begin to life as Barcelona supervisor, racking up 13 wins in 15 video games, with the gamers adapting to his fashion and philosophy pretty simply.
Discussing his early success on the membership, the 59-year-old remarked: “Earlier than coming right here I already analysed the crew and the gamers. We noticed that we had a variety of high quality. We’ve tried to instil a brand new philosophy, each in assault and defence.
“The gamers have understood that. The optimistic outcomes have helped us. The gamers like this fashion, however there are nonetheless issues to enhance.”
On whether or not he sees Barcelona with an opportunity of successful the Champions League primarily based on how issues have gone up to now this season, Flick replied:
“There may be a variety of work to do to win the Champions League. There are excellent groups who’ve the identical goal. Ultimately, it’s about working onerous and never speaking a lot.”
Earlier within the presser, Barcelona teenager Fermin Lopez praised Flick, crediting him for the advance that the squad has revamped the previous three months. Nonetheless, the pinnacle coach downplayed it and as a substitute credited the entire crew, saying:
“We’ve an incredible crew round us. Deco has additionally achieved an incredible job. Working collectively has gone very nicely for us. The gamers are additionally doing very nicely. It’s a gem to look at them play in coaching.
“It’s unbelievable. In the intervening time every part goes nicely. It’s not simply the children, the extra skilled ones are serving to the children and that’s how a crew ought to work.”
Concerning the crew’s present scenario within the Champions League and whether or not he’s already calculating the factors wanted for development, the supervisor mentioned:
“Not but. This will change lots. The vital factor is to win video games and after the sport in opposition to Bayern it modified lots. I don’t even know what place we’re in.
“We’ve simply began and once we end we hope to be within the prime eight. That is the objective and I feel we will obtain it.”
Supply: Mundo Deportivo
